Battery and battery housing

Abstract

A battery including an electrode assembly having electrode plates, a can defining a space receiving the electrode assembly, and a cap plate covering the space, wherein the cap plate is configured to deform away from the space when predetermined sides of the can are deformed toward the space.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A prismatic battery, comprising:
 an electrode assembly including electrode plates and a separator, the separator being wound between the electrode plates; 
 a can defining a space receiving the electrode assembly; and 
 a cap plate covering the space, the cap plate being configured to deform away from the space when predetermined sides of the can are deformed toward the space, 
 wherein a hole is defined through the cap plate in a center region thereof, 
 wherein the electrode assembly further includes an electrode terminal disposed through the hole such that an upper portion thereof is exposed at an exterior of the prismatic battery, the electrode terminal being electrically coupled to one of the electrode plates via a terminal plate and being electrically insulated from the cap plate, 
 wherein the cap plate has at least two stepped portions extending away from the space, the at least two stepped portions:
 forming one concave feature around the center region including a center portion on which the hole is formed, and 
 offsetting the center region from peripheral regions of the cap plate such that a distance from the center region to the space is greater than a distance from the peripheral regions to the space, 
 
 wherein each stepped portion has a side surface inclined at an angle with respect to a major surface of the cap plate, and 
 wherein the terminal plate and the electrode terminal are coupled to the cap plate, the terminal plate and a lower portion of the electrode terminal being disposed between the concave feature and the electrode assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The prismatic battery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the concave feature has a long dimension with a length of 20% to 70% of the cap plate. 
     
     
       3. The prismatic battery as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each stepped portion has a height equal to at least 50% of a thickness of the cap plate. 
     
     
       4. The battery as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least two stepped portions extend away from the space, the stepped portions defining the center region of the cap plate. 
     
     
       5. A prismatic battery, comprising:
 an electrode assembly including electrode plates and a separator, the separator being wound between the electrode plates; 
 a can defining a space receiving the electrode assembly; and 
 a cap plate covering the space, the cap plate being configured to deform away from the space when predetermined sides of the can are deformed toward the space; 
 wherein a hole is defined through the cap plate in a center region thereof, 
 wherein the electrode assembly further includes an electrode terminal disposed through the hole such that an upper portion thereof is exposed at an exterior of the prismatic battery, the electrode terminal being electrically coupled to one of the electrode plates via a terminal plate and being electrically insulated from the cap plate, 
 wherein the cap plate has grooves, each of which being formed on an inner surface of the cap plate between end regions of the cap plate and the center region of the cap plate and facing the space such that the grooves have a concavity open towards the space, 
 wherein the inner surface of the cap plate at the end regions is coplanar with the inner surface of the cap plate at the center region, and 
 wherein the terminal plate and the electrode terminal are coupled to the cap plate, the terminal plate and a lower portion of the electrode terminal being disposed in a region between the grooves. 
 
     
     
       6. The prismatic battery as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the grooves are continuously formed in loop shape and enclose the center region. 
     
     
       7. The prismatic battery as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the loop-shaped grooves enclose a rectangular region. 
     
     
       8. The prismatic battery as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least two grooves are extended laterally across a width of the cap plate. 
     
     
       9. A battery housing of a prismatic battery for housing a battery electrode assembly, the battery housing comprising:
 a body, the body defining a space to contain the battery electrode assembly and the battery electrode assembly including electrode plates and a separator, the separator being wound between the electrode plates; and 
 a cap plate defining an upper wall of the space, the cap plate being configured to deform away from the space when predetermined sides of the body are deformed toward the space, and the cap plate having at least two stepped portions extending away from the space, the at least two stepped portions:
 forming one concave feature around a center region including a center portion on which a hole is formed, and 
 offsetting the center region from peripheral regions of the cap plate such that a distance from the center region to the space is greater than a distance from peripheral regions to the space, 
 
 wherein each stepped portion has a side surface inclined at an angle with respect to a major surface of the cap plate, 
 wherein the hole is defined through the concave feature of the cap plate in the center region of the cap plate, 
 wherein the electrode assembly further includes an electrode terminal disposed through the hole such that an upper portion thereof is exposed at an exterior of the prismatic battery, the electrode terminal being electrically coupled to one of the electrode plates by a terminal plate and being electrically insulated from the cap plate, and 
 wherein the terminal plate and the electrode terminal are coupled to the cap plate, the terminal plate and a lower portion of the electrode terminal being disposed between the concave feature and the electrode assembly. 
 
     
     
       10. The battery housing as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the body and the cap plate are monolithically formed. 
     
     
       11. The battery housing as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the at least two stepped portions extend away from the space and laterally across a width of the cap plate, the at least two stepped portions defining the peripheral regions and the center region
 such that an inner surface of the center region is not coplanar with inner surfaces of the peripheral regions. 
 
     
     
       12. A battery housing of a prismatic battery for housing a battery electrode assembly, the battery housing comprising:
 a body, the body defining a space to contain the battery electrode assembly and the battery electrode assembly including electrode plates and a separator, the separator being wound between the electrode plates; and 
 a cap plate defining an upper wall of the space, wherein the cap plate is configured to deform away from the space when predetermined sides of the body are deformed toward the space, 
 wherein an inner surface of end regions of the cap plate is coplanar with an inner surface of a center region of the cap plate, 
 wherein a hole is defined through the cap plate in the center region, 
 wherein the electrode assembly further includes an electrode terminal disposed through the hole such that an upper portion thereof is exposed at an exterior of the prismatic battery, the electrode terminal being electrically coupled to one of the electrode plates by a terminal plate and being electrically insulated from the cap plate, 
 wherein the cap plate has grooves, each of which being formed on the inner surface of the cap plate between the end regions of the cap plate and the center region of the cap plate and facing the space such that the grooves have a concavity open towards the space, and 
 wherein the terminal plate and the electrode terminal are coupled to the cap plate, the terminal plate and a lower portion of the electrode terminal being disposed on a region between the grooves. 
 
     
     
       13. The battery housing as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the grooves are continuously formed in a loop shape. 
     
     
       14. The battery housing as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the loop-shaped grooves enclose a rectangular region.